Dear Amy: About a year ago my two sisters and I decided to join a two-year contract to buy cable for my dad. We decided that we would split the payment between the three of us to make it more affordable.

Half a year later, my younger sister (21) decided to move away to college. I told her she would still have to continue paying her third of the cable, but she disagreed because she said she would not be home to watch the cable.

I reminded her that the cable was not for us but for our father.

Before she moved away she was jobless but half a year later she is working again. Shouldn’t she stay true to her word and continue to pay her third of the bill for the remainder of the contract? After all, it was her decision to move away. – Seething Sister

Dear Sister: If we only had to pay for gifts we could use ourselves, then I need to tell my sister that I really want to wear that sweater I gave her last month.

Your sister obligated herself and she should acknowledge her obligation. I agree with you that she is on the hook.

However, as the older sisters, you and your other sister should understand that your younger sister may not be able to maintain her commitment toward this very generous gift.

Dear Amy: Last year a co-worker gave birth to her first child. As soon as I learned of her pregnancy, I threw myself into making a homemade cradle for the baby.

I made sure I followed safety guidelines. I used the finest material available and probably spent at least a half-dozen weekends making sure the craftsmanship was perfect.

When I delivered the rocking cradle to my co-worker, who was on maternity leave, I attached a card. She was at the hospital, and I left the gift at her house with her mother-in-law.

I never heard from the co-worker.

After four weeks I sent an e-mail asking after the baby boy and asking if the rocking cradle had been received. I received no response.

Five months later she returned to work. We were assigned to attend a local work conference together and I took that opportunity to ask again if she had received the cradle.

She paused to think and said, “Yeah, we got it. We use it.”

As I had engraved the child’s name in the cradle and worked so very hard on it, I couldn’t help but be disappointed. The words “Thank you” haven’t once come out of her mouth.

I know there are more important things in the world, but now I avoid this co-worker. I find her lack of manners appalling. I am an older gentleman and she is in her mid-30s. Our spouses have both met and I feel we are all comfortable with one another.

How can the problem be fixed if I don’t tell her how I feel? – Chagrined

Dear Chagrined: It’s possible that your extreme generosity has overwhelmed your co-worker. This sort of amazing homemade gift is literally priceless, and she is obviously ill-equipped to respond.

Know this: You could tell her how you feel, but it will not fix the problem — which is that this person is flawed and needs to figure out how to express gratitude.

If you want to do this, keep it simple and to the point. Her response will be along the lines of, “Well, uh, duh — whatever.”

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